Shane is indisputably one of the great classic films of the American West. Based on the novel written by Jack Schaefer in 1949, Shane brought the best of the book to life on the big screen. Shane is a wandering stranger who appears from out of nowhere and makes a profound impact on the lives of some simple homesteaders, the Starretts. Most of the story is told from the point of view of Joey, the young, impressionable son of Joe and Marian Starrett.

After reviewing original production projections, Paramount almost dropped Shane from distribution. They considered selling the film to another company because they did not believe it would earn enough money to cover its cost. However, Shane ended up finding success at the box office, grossing far more than expected.

George Stevens is widely regarded as one of the best directors of his time. Stevens made a variety...